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Apply for Financial Aid

Personal Identification Number (PIN)

A PIN number will allow you and your parents to apply online for financial aid. If you are a dependent student, both you and one parent will need a PIN. If you are an independent student, only you, the student, will need a PIN. Once you receive your PIN, you can apply online. It is a completely paperless process!

To obtain your PIN, apply online at www.pin.ed.gov. You will be able to receive your PIN immediately, and change it to a number meaningful to you. If you wish, you may still request a paper FAFSA. Please contact the Financial Aid Office at (800) 778-7223 or e-mail finaid@msoe.edu to request a paper FAFSA.

Dependent vs. Independent Student
If you can answer YES to ANY of the following statements, you are considered an independent student for financial aid purposes. If you answer NO to ALL of the following statements, you are considered a dependant student for financial aid purposes. As a dependent student you are required to include your parents' information on the FAFSA regardless of whether your parents claim you on their taxes.

  • I was born before January 1, 1986.
  • I was married as of the date I filed the FAFSA.
  • I have children or other dependents who receive more than half of their support from me.
  • I will be working on a master’s degree at the beginning of the school year.
  • I am currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training.
  • I am a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces.
  • When I was 13 or older, both my parents were deceased, I was in foster care, or I was a dependent/ward of the court. 
  • As of the date I filed the FAFSA, I was an emancipated minor or in legal guardianship determined by a court in my state of legal residence.
  • I was determined an unaccompanied youth who was homeless by my high school, by a transitional living program, or by an emergency shelter program on or after July 1, 2008.

Apply for Aid Online

Once you have received the required Personal Identification Numbers, you may complete the application process online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. You will need MSOE's school code, which is 003868.




MSOE Financial Aid Office
OE Number 003868